Transit Traveler Information

CEE582

Fixed- Route Central ControlCustomer Information

Wireless DataOn-Off Load

Data Radio/Message and AVL

Transmission

Digital Video

CentralComputer-Aided

Dispatch and Vehicle Tracking

Fixed-RouteFare Structure,

Routes and Schedules

Internet-BasedFixed-Route

Service Status

Dynamic Bus Stop Sign

Multi-ModalInteractive VoiceResponse Phone

System

Vehicle Performance

Data

Route Performance

Data

Fixed-Route Revenue Data

Invalid Fare Cards

Internet-BasedTrip Planning

CEE582

Next Stop Announcements

Next Stop Displays

GPS Receiver

On-Board Automatic VehicleLocation and Mobile Processing

Goals

• Attract new riders– make transit a reasonable alternative

• Retain riders– make transit worth the trouble

• Increase political support– stay in business

CEE582

Barriers to Using Transit

• Lack of– Convenience– Safety & security– Reliability & dependability

• Actual and perceived

CEE582

Tough Product to Market

• Can I get there by bus?• When and where do I

catch the bus?• Did I miss the bus?• Is it coming at all?• I need correct change?• I have to transfer?• Where are we anyway?

CEE582

CEE582

APTS

Technology Enables Change

OperationsFocus

CustomerFocus

CEE582

Traveler Information Services

• Pre-trip– Timetables and maps– Interactive route finding– Trip planning– Current status of service

• En-Route– Next stop– Expected bus arrival time at transfer

centers

CEE582

Traveler Information Technologies• Multi-modal web-based traveler

information portal– PCs– Kiosks

• Web-based transit maps and schedules– PCs– Kiosks

• Web-based transit trip planning– PCs– Kiosks

CEE582

More Traveler Information Technologies

• Web-based “real-time” information – current status of service– PCs– Mobile devices (PDAs. Cell phones)– Kiosks– Interactive voice response

• Electronic signs at bus stops, transit centers

• Electronic signs on-board

CEE582

Timetables, Maps and Interactive Route Finding

• Electronic copies of timetables• Route finding

– Selected origins and destinations– Neighborhood level

• Multi-modal connections

CEE582

CEE582

CEE582

CEE582

CEE582

CEE582

Trip Planning• User input of origin, destination and time

of travel• Result includes:

– Routes, stops, boarding times, transfer locations

– Walking route to bus stop and final destination– Fare

• Regional• Intercity, statewide, multi-state

CEE582

CEE582

                 

CEE582

Current Status of Service

• “Real-time” information or “Next Bus” information– Current location– Current schedule adherence status– Predicted schedule adherence status– Predicted arrival time or minutes until

arrival

CEE582

Arrival Predictions

• Based on:– Current schedule deviation (at

previous time point)– Predicted travel time from current

location to next time point– Historical information versus modeled

performance

CEE582

CEE582

CEE582

CEE582

CEE582

CEE582

CEE582

CEE582

On-Board “Next Stop”

• On-board database– Route– Stop sequence– Scheduled times

• Current location (AVL)• On-board processing of actual vs.

scheduled location to confirm current service

CEE582

CEE582

Is the Bus You Ride at This Stop Usually on Time? (Burnside and 28th Street)

60%

13%27%

80%

10%10%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Yes No Don't know

Per

cen

t o

f R

esp

on

den

ts

Before Survey (n=62) After Survey (n=61)

On-Time Performance

CEE582

“I feel safe at this bus stop at night.”

3% 2%

38%

17%

25%

17%

7%

35%

11%

44%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

CompletelyAgree

Agree Neutral Disagree CompletelyDisagree

Level of Agreement Scale

Per

cen

t o

f R

esp

on

den

ts

Before Survey (n=169) After Survey (n=203)

CEE582

Overall Satisfaction with Service

70%

1%1% 0%4%4%

21%

39%

6%

54%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

ExtremelySatisfied

Satisfied NeitherSatisfied norDissatisfied

Satisfied ExtremelyDissatisfied

Rating Scale

Per

cen

t o

f R

esp

on

den

ts

Before Survey (n=222) After Survey (n=268)

CEE582

Transit Traveler Information Implementation Issues• Major schedule changes at least 3

times/year– Minor changes every day to every 2 weeks

• How best to communicate current service status information

• Accessibility (ADA)• Vandalism• Environment• Communications requirements

CEE582

More Implementation Issues• When is a bus “late?”• What if a bus is early?• Just because it was late there doesn’t

mean it will be late here• What if the prediction is wrong? (public

trust in the information)• Funding constraints -- Is giving riders

information more important than giving them more service?

CEE582